Insights into the Degradation Mechanisms of TCH by Magnetic Fe3S4/Cu2O Composite

Dan Li; Jiahui Yang; Shuang Lv; Xiaopeng Li; Li Shao; Caiyun Zhou; Feigao Xu

doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c01176

Insights into the Degradation Mechanisms of TCH by Magnetic Fe₃S₄/Cu₂O Composite

Inorg Chem. 2023 Jul 10;62(27):10713-10726. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c01176. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Authors

Dan Li¹, Jiahui Yang¹, Shuang Lv¹, Xiaopeng Li¹, Li Shao¹, Caiyun Zhou², Feigao Xu³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Resources & Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, P. R. China.
² School of Nursing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, P. R. China.
³ College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, P. R. China.

PMID: 37368987
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c01176

Abstract

Unique Fe₃S₄/Cu₂O composites were constructed with high Fenton-like photocatalytic activity through the impregnation coprecipitation method. The structure, morphology, optical, magnetic, and photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared composites were explored in detail. The findings suggest that small Cu₂O particles were grown on the surface of Fe₃S₄. The removal efficiency of TCH by Fe₃S₄/Cu₂O was 65.7, 4.75, and 3.67 times higher than that of pure Fe₃S₄, Cu₂O, and the Fe₃S₄ + Cu₂O mixture, respectively, when the mass ratio of Fe₃S₄ and Cu₂O was 1:1 at pH 7.2. The synergistic effect between Cu₂O and Fe₃S₄ was the main factor for TCH degradation. The Cu⁺ species from Cu₂O increased the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ cycle during the Fenton reaction. ^•O₂^- and h⁺ were the main active radicals; however, ^•OH and e^- played the second role in the photocatalytic degradation reaction. Moreover, the Fe₃S₄/Cu₂O composite retained good recyclability and versatility, and could be conveniently separated by a magnet.